Lights. Camera. Sober Action! The Sans Bar Academy Awards are back, and the 2025 finalists have just been announced. As the alcohol-free movement continues to gain momentum, these awards celebrate the changemakers, creators, brands, and voices leading the charge toward a more inclusive, mindful, and booze-free future. And this year, The Sober Curator is taking center stage in one of the most influential categories of all: Culture Ambassador 2025.
🎤 Sober Pop Culture Is Queen: Alysse Bryson and The Rise of Sober Pop Culture
Let’s just take a moment and shout this from the rooftops: Alysse Bryson, Founder of The Sober Curator, has been named a finalist for Culture Ambassador of the Year. Known for blending sass, smarts, and soul into every corner of the sober lifestyle space, Alysse has spent years curating a media empire devoted to sober pop culture. Her work redefines what it means to live alcohol-free—not as a limitation, but as a launching pad for creativity, joy, and unapologetic fun.
From reviewing TV shows and books through a sober lens to showcasing elevated non-alcoholic beverages, Alysse and her team highlight the full, vibrant lives being lived on the other side of the bottle. Being a finalist in the Culture category isn’t just a personal accolade—it’s recognition that sober pop culture is no longer on the sidelines. It’s here, it’s thriving, and it’s leading the narrative.
🏆 Meet the 2025 Sans Bar Finalists
Here’s the full rundown of this year’s stellar nominees across all categories:
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series
- Killjoy After Party
- Present and Sober
- Thriving Alcohol Free with Mocktail Mom
- Clean Play
- Stackin’ Days
- Soberness Podcast
Culture Ambassador 2025
- Alysse Bryson, @thesobercurator
- Deb Podglad, @mocktail.mom
- Claire Valera, @soberclairity
- Nadine Mulvina, @the.soberbutterfly
- Jamie Sabbit, @distillandexpress
Leader of the Year
- Tawny Lara
- Ian Blessing
- Beth Harbinson
- Joshua James
- Jen Batchelor
- Bjorn Taylor
Best in Texas
- Sober and Funky
- Detox ATX
- Sober Clairity
- The Zero Proof
- Beyond the Bar
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Welcome to the hub for all things NA, featuring reviews of alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), NA recipes, and so much more from behind the bar. #becausedrunkneverlooksgood
Brands and Products
Best NA Beer
Best NA Wine
Best NA Botanical
- Wilderton Bittersweet Apertivo
- Ritual Zero Proof
- New London Light
- Spiritless
- Lyres
- Fluere
Best RTD (Ready-to-Drink)
- RSRV Collective
- Curious Elixirs
- Casamara Club
- Jas
- Blind Tiger Cocktails
- High Ground Elixirs
Best New Product
- Coffee Bitters by All the Bitters (Laura Silverman)
- Edna’s Cocktails
- Hilfens
- St Buena Vida Vines
- Lapos Spritz
Product on the Rise
- Copenhagen Sparkling Tea
- Haus of Babylon
- Grüvi
- All the Bitter
- Oceano Wines
- Tomonotomo
Person/Group on the Rise
- Open Bar Road
- Gem Life Bar
- Take a Fresh Sip
- Ever AFter
- Third Place Bar
- Raising the Bar
Best Social Media Account
- Alex Brown @recoveringtraveler
- Kendall Olsen @libations_library
- Laniah Harris @mixdmocktailbar
- Generation NA @generationna
- Third Place Bar @thirdplacebarnyc
- Dr. Brooke Scheller @drbrookescheller
Coach of the Year
- Heather Lowe @ditchedthedrink
- Jen Hirst @jenleehirst
- Karolina Rzadkowolska @euphorix.af
- Lauren Bojangles @yoursoberpal
- Jenn Kautsch @sobersis
- Shane Kelley @shanekelleyrecovers
Best Community
- Sober Black Girls Club
- The Luckiest Club
- N/Ation Collaboration
- Zero Proof Experiences
- The Phoenix
Best Media Coverage About the NA Movement
- Dry Atlas
- Lo No Drinker Magazine
- Mock the Toast
- Positive Damage
- AFter Magazine
- Zero Proof Nation
🌍 Why This Matters: More Than Just Awards
Hosted by the visionary Chris Marshall of Sans Bar, the Sans Bar Academy Awards aren’t just a popularity contest—they’re a barometer for where the alcohol-free movement is headed. These awards reflect a growing ecosystem of creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs breaking barriers and building inclusive spaces for everyone navigating sobriety, sober curiosity, or simply a healthier lifestyle.
The fact that The Sober Curator is recognized in the Culture category speaks volumes. Pop culture plays a massive role in shaping norms, expectations, and behaviors. By making sobriety visible, desirable, and even cool, we’re rewriting the script for the next generation.
🗳️ Vote and Support
Voting is open to the public, so if you’re passionate about this movement—or just love the work Alysse Bryson is leading the charge on—head over to Sans Bar Academy and cast your vote. Every click is a signal to the world that sober is not just acceptable; it’s aspirational.
Let’s raise a glass of something deliciously NA and toast the nominees who are changing the world—one alcohol-free choice at a time.
🖤 Written by The Sober Curator Team — where sobriety and pop culture collide.
📸 Follow @thesobercurator for more behind-the-scenes content and to cheer on Alysse during awards season!
WALK YOUR TALK: Did Someone Say AWARDS Season? Enjoy Our Curated List of 2025 Red Carpet Looks – Fashion, But Make It Sober
- Best and Worst Dressed at The Met Gala: Sober Edition
- The Met Gala Best and Worst Dressed Menswear
- Best And Worst Dressed At The Met Gala: Plus Size Edition
- Recovery on the Runway: A Powerful NYFW Showcase of Fashion, Music, and Advocacy
- Best and Worst Dressed at the 2025 Oscar Awards
- Best and Worst Dressed at the 2025 SAG Awards
- Best and Worst Dressed at the Critics’ Choice Awards
- Best and Worst Dressed Sober and Sober Curious Celebs at the 2025 Grammy Awards
SOBER POP CULTURE + CELEBS: All things pop culture with a sober twist. The Sober Curator endeavors to bridge the gap and break the mold between mainstream pop culture and the vibrant world of sobriety, offering a treasure trove of recommendations spanning movies, podcasts, fashion, book reviews, mocktails (or alcohol-free cocktails), and beyond. Our aim was clear: to cultivate an authority on living a fulfilling, sober life brimming with possibilities and FUN! (Big emphasis on the FUN part, as we are tired of people saying, “Oh, you’re sober – isn’t that boring?)
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Welcome to the new hub of all things NA, featuring reviews on non-alcoholic craft beers, wines, ciders, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and recipes. Discover a bit more education or get the NA Cocktail Party started with our curated reviews, how-to’s, and activation bar ideas.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
SOBERSCRIBE NOW!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
